What separates those who talk about making a big move – even a pivot from those who actually do it?

Being unreasonable. Tenacious and not quitting when that goal is non-negotiable.

Keith Anderson - was an English teacher – with a love for linguistics (find out why this matters and how he used it) making $27k annually. With sights on working at Google and a coach who told him it was impossible. His fire was lit.

How’d he do it? That’s what this episode is all about.

From Futility to Strategy

Keith started out messaging 125 strangers with "I see you work at Google. Can you refer me?" That landed with 125 rejections.

Trials and errors brought on the breakthrough when he stopped treating his job search like a transaction:

• He spoke like an insider using industry vernacular that signaled belonging
• He humanized his resume by placing quirky personal details (like winning a pie competition) at the top
• He limited rejection exposure by confining job search activities to 2 hours daily
• He measured progress objectively rather than emotionally

The results - hardly overnight – but earned positions at Google, and later worked at Facebook, YouTube, and Uber.

The fantasy of "making it" quickly gave way to the reality of long hours and relentless production demands. Dreams achieved often look different than dreams imagined.

"Don't believe what everyone says," Keith advises. "Don't believe everything you read. It's people's perception, their reality. But that doesn't need to be your reality."

While others debate whether the job market is good or bad, someone is getting hired somewhere today. Why not you?

"What's wrong with people," Keith says, "is they believe they can do well by just getting by when they need to aim for the highest."

The permission to be unreasonable in pursuit of what matters might be the only permission worth seeking.

You can hire Keith to help you with your job search https://careeralchemylab.com/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/keithand/LinkedIn

Chapters:

00:00 - 01:45 - Introduction 01:45 - 04:18 - Keith's Background and Burnout 04:18 - 09:01 - The Spark of Interest in Tech 09:01 - 14:00 - The Job Search Strategy Evolution 14:00 - 19:04 - Resume Transformation 19:04 - 23:25 - Making Your Resume Human - Quirks Work 23:25 - 27:16 - Handling Rejection and Almost Quitting 27:16 - 30:25 - Reality Check at Google 30:25 - 32:49 - Finding the Right Path in Tech 32:49 - 37:00 - Key Advice for Career Transitions 37:00 - 39:34 - Closing and Business Information

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For the life of me, given the choice between a strong, more profitable business and letting go of the back-assward stigma around age, the logic is clear. But is it?

Like me, Janine Vanderburg isn’t shy about why the math isn’t mathing the business reasons why it’s about impact not age..

Here’s what you’ll find out:

What if the system itself was rigged against you in ways you've never considered—not because you're not qualified, but because of your date of birth.

When there's a problem like ageism in hiring, it "goes in both directions." As Janine Vanderburg reveals, we're not just talking about discrimination against those 40-plus. "Youngerism" is equally "alive and kicking."

If you've been ghosted after interviews, if you've watched less qualified candidates get positions you were perfect for, it might not be you—it might be your birth year.

Even more shocking: Resume Builder's surveys found hiring managers systematically screen out both applicants over 60 AND those under 27.

And if you work with AI? 90% of hiring managers don't want to hire anybody over 35 for roles involving artificial intelligence—despite experienced professionals often being the best AI power users.

1. Inside your own mind: When you think "I'm too young/old for this position" before even applying
2. In hiring practices: When recruiters make assumptions about your abilities based solely on graduation dates
3. Embedded in systems: When AI screening tools filter you out before a human ever sees your application

By 2030—just five years away—there will be more people over 65 than under 18. Companies unprepared for this reality will be scrambling for talent while others thrive.

Will you be positioned to capitalize on this inevitable shift?

As Janine advises, "You can be willing to fight to end ageism, and you can also try to preserve your financial security." Both can be true at once.

The wisest approach? Learn the unwritten rules, navigate the system strategically, and position yourself where your true value is recognized.

Listen now to discover how to turn what looks like an obstacle into your greatest competitive advantage.

Janine Vanderburg (https://www.linkedin.com/in/janinevanderburg/) is a Keynote Speaker, and Founder/Director of Changing the Narrative is the leading effort in the U.S. to change the way people think, talk and act about aging and ageism through evidence-based strategies and innovative public campaigns. Her end game? To end ageism."

Chapters:

00:00-01:32 - Introduction & The Firestarter

01:32-05:58 - Understanding the Landscape of Ageism

05:58-09:23 - Janine's Awakening to Ageism

09:23-10:41 - Cliff Notes from the Training

10:41-13:34 - Employer Messaging Shift

13:34-16:05 - The Math Isn't Mathing

16:05-18:14 - Progress & Reality Check

18:14-29:09 - Staying in the Fight Without Burning Out

Like what you hear? Subscribe and leave a 5-star review!

Suggest a topic or ask a question for me to answer on the show!

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Follow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/portfoliorocket/

Watch my podcast on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCpGM7j8croBkkZ4bLqN7DOQ/

In this me to you episode, I am delivering some tough love and strategic clarity for executives facing job search challenges in today's uncertain climate.

Uncertainty isn't new, and someone will get hired despite the chaos - here are the 5 key take-aways to make sure it you.

See uncertainty as feature, not a bug Extended interview processes are designed to find leaders who leverage uncertainty as an advantage. Companies want those who transform chaos, not merely endure it.

Scarcity is a lie, not the truth Opportunities haven't vanished; they've transformed. The problem isn't market scarcity but your perspective. Flip your viewpoint and find possibilities in unexpected places.

Campaign, don't just search Reframe from passive "searching" to active "campaigning." Treat your job hunt as a strategic business initiative. Apply agile methods: iterate, test, learn from failures.

You need to deepen connections In uncertain times, companies seek referrals through trusted networks. Don't ask "who do you know?" but rather "who needs to know what I know?" - an approach focused on providing value.

Flaunt your battle scars Don't hide struggles with crisis management - these experiences make you valuable. Perfection won't land you the job; authentic leadership will.

The future belongs to executives who move first, adapt quickly, and build value regardless of conditions. Someone will get hired - make it you.

Chapters:

Like what you hear? Subscribe and leave a 5-star review!

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The world is obsessed with metrics and status. But the most important currency is the one you’re missing.

Most of us spend our careers chasing validation – titles and paychecks. I did too. So did our guest Matt Emerzian.

The brutal reality?

Your job search misery, corporate culture complaints, and endless pursuit of status are all symptoms of the same disease:

The belief that mattering is something you find rather than something YOU make.

Think this theoretical? Think again: Get Matt’ 5 Frameworks to Make Your Life Matter

I-You-We Framework:

• I Matter: Discover your uniqueness (there's only 1 of you among 8 billion!)
• You Matter: Make the 38,000 daily choices count by connecting first
• We Matter: Stop the self-help delusion - you're not on an island with a volleyball

Brutal Time Audit: What truly matters to you?Check your calendar. The gap between these two answers is why you feel empty.

Values as Weapons: When everything feels uncertain, non-negotiable values become your armor.

The Self-Talk Intervention: Your internal dialogue is the most revealing data point of your life. Most of us wouldn't speak to enemies the way we speak to ourselves.

The Counterintuitive Path: The healing sequence is backwards: internal healing → relationship repair → serving others. Most get stuck at step one forever.

Culture Ownership Test: Stop pointing at "toxic culture" as if it's over there. You ARE the culture.

Want to matter more? Start by making others matter more.

00:00 Intro

01:51 The Search for Meaning in Work

04:49 Matt's Journey to Finding Purpose

10:01 Understanding Mattering Beyond Clichés

14:34 Creating a Movement Around Mattering

22:11 Actionable Steps to Cultivate Mattering

26:03 The Power of Choice in Finding Meaning

Follow Matt:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthew-emerzian/

Website: https://www.matthewemerzian.com/

X: https://x.com/emerzian

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/matthewemerzian/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MEmerzian/

Like what you hear? Subscribe and leave a 5-star review!

Suggest a topic or ask a question for me to answer on the show!

Want FREE executive job search tips each week? Click here to join my newsletter.

Get a copy of my ebook Turn Age Into Your Advantage

Follow me on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lorengreiff/

Follow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/portfoliorocket/

Watch my podcast on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCpGM7j8croBkkZ4bLqN7DOQ/

Recruiting is big business ($10B) and that’s just at the executive level.

They don’t work for you, they work for their clients and it’s hard.

I know, I lived it.

Today’s recruiters are busier and pickier than ever.

They're not looking at your resume. They're looking through you.

Bottom-First Screening: While you obsess over that job title, elite recruiters scroll directly to your volunteer work and recommendations. This is where they spot the difference between performers and pretenders.

The $10K Truth Bomb "If I handed you $10,000 for development right now, where would it go?" Hesitate? You're done. Your immediate answer reveals what you know you lack — and whether you're brave enough to admit it.

ARU: The Invisible Scorecard Appreciation. Respect. Understanding. Leaders who master this trinity don't chase loyalty — it hunts them down.

No Scars = No Chance Perfect candidates terrify top recruiters. They want someone who's been burned to ashes and rebuilt themselves. Battle-tested. Not bubble-wrapped.

Team Credit = Instant Credibility The moment you say "I" instead of "we" when describing victories, you've exposed yourself as a corner-office liability.

Name The Bloody Moose: Address your "flaws" before they do. Age concerns? Throw it on the table first and reframe it as the seasoned judgment they desperately need.

00:00:00 Intro

00:04:16 Understanding Executive Talent

00:07:15 The Importance of Emotional Intelligence

00:10:03 Building a Strong Candidate Profile

00:13:53 How Candidates Can Work with Recruiters

00:16:41 Navigating Ageism in Recruitment

00:19:46 The Qualities of Effective Leaders

00:22:49 The Value of Vulnerability and Authenticity

00:25:48 The Changing Landscape of Employment

00:28:38 Overcoming Adversity in Leadership

00:31:43 Closing Thoughts and Recommendations

Follow Rick:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rickkloete/

Website: http://www.kloetegroup.com/

Like what you hear? Subscribe and leave a 5-star review!

Suggest a topic or ask a question for me to answer on the show!

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Follow me on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lorengreiff/

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Watch my podcast on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCpGM7j8croBkkZ4bLqN7DOQ/

Corporate America is bleeding talent pretending the needs of working parents are asking for a perk, at the expense of being a profit engine.

This week Heather Powers, author of The Power Lane: Why Keeping Moms in the Workforce REVS the Economy exposes this hypocrisy.

"Women are not leaving the workforce, they're leaving the workplace."

Let’s get real with the facts:

The undeniable math:

Companies losing parents are burning money.

Replacement costs run 2x salary while teams flounder for months. Smart organizations are waking up.

The data needs to demolish myths:

Most productive employees? Parents with multiple kids.

The talent shortage isn't theoretical—it's here, and businesses ignoring parent flexibility are losing their competitive edge.

Stop apologizing for parenthood: How to dismantle outdated the "work vs. family" dichotomy. No more apologizing for Thursday soccer games— leverage those constraints into ruthless productivity.

Your Ace: The uncomfortable truths:

Company's stubbornness isn't just hurting parents—it's sabotaging shareholder value. The most expensive words in business? "This is how we've always done it."

Like what you hear? Don’t forget to subscribe and leave a 5-star review!

Suggest a topic or ask a question for me to answer on the show!

Want FREE executive job search tips each week? Click here to join my newsletter.

Get a copy of my ebook Turn Age Into Your Advantage

Follow me on LinkedIn

Follow me on Instagram

Watch my podcast on YouTube

Follow Heather on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/heather-l-powers/

Get Heather’s book: The Power Lane: Why Keeping Moms in the Workforce REVS the Economy

“Kidnappers are just businessmen looking for a great deal”

That’s how Scott Walker, legendary hostage negotiator reframes his work (with a 93% success rate) in high stakes situations you can apply to yours.

Let’s call a spade a spade. You can feel like a hostage in your job search.

Every interview can fire off an emotion.

Your future, in limbo.

Your finances handcuffed

Your head, unclear who to trust, including yourself.

We can all learn from Scott starting with:

The River of Emotion:

A metaphor to overcome emotional hijacking.

His tip, observe NOT absorb.

Stand on the riverbank without swimming in the current.

The 3-2-1 Formula:

Sort your challenges into three buckets:

What you can control, influence, or must ignore

Trust as the Golden Thread:

Understand how trust is the foundation of all successful negotiations.

The simple (but not easy) principle: do what you say you're going to do.

Embracing Conflict:

Learn why the "conflict call" is often necessary to establish boundaries and expectations. Having direct, candid, kind conversations enhances your value and presence.

The 30-Second Reset:

Practice pausing throughout your day to feel the feeling and drop the story.

This simple habit builds the emotional muscle needed for higher-stakes situations.

Negotiating our emotional regulation isn't limited to hostage situations or boardrooms - it's simply "a conversation with purpose" that we all engage in daily.

Like what you hear? Don’t forget to subscribe and leave a 5-star review!

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Follow Scott on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/scottaw/

Elevate Your Negotiation Game: https://winanynegotiation.com/pages/negotiation-training

To order a copy of Scott's book, 'Order Out of Chaos', click here: https://www.waterstones.com/book/order-out-of-chaos/scott-walker/9780349434988

• Swordfish slice forward with explosive acceleration and channel all energy toward their target.
• Whales circle aimlessly, stuck in familiar patterns, deliberating endlessly.
• Your forward momentum creates the flywheel that attracts everything.
• No momentum, no results.

Success leaves clues, start collecting them

• Talk to five people daily who have what you want.
• Stop guessing. Ask them: "What would you do differently if starting now?" Their answers create your shortcut.

• Your search is an audition for the role you want.

• Half-measures telegraph self-doubt. No one gets hired for "good enough Not minimum effort
• Define the top three most meaningful elements that make you the best at what you do, who you do it for and why. Message it, and refine it relentlessly.

Cut corners and certainty can’t shine through.

Commit to excellence and signals turn green.